Tools of Trust : Business Forecasting in the Twentieth Century

Tools of Trust examines the history and evolution of business forecasting in the 20th century and its influence on economic and political decision-making. It is a resource for students and professionals in history, economics, and sociology studying the role of forecasting in policy-making and capitalism.

How is it possible that economists generally fail to foresee recession, yet forecasting has never lost its appeal and importance? Using a combination of published scientific and technical literature, newspaper articles as well as archival material from thirty-three research sites in six countries, Tools of Trust looks for an answer to this question. It tells the history of business forecasting in the twentieth century, tracing the emergence and fundamental transformations of forecasting techniques and their role in economic and political decision-making. It investigates how the role of business forecasting has changed and how this has transformed economic and political decision-making. Offering a nuanced understanding of the crucial role forecasting plays in managing economic uncertainty, this book examines how unforeseen economic crises have paradoxically reinforced the importance of forecasting, turning it into an indispensable tool to reduce economic uncertainty and stabilize the capitalist order.